Tub design with protected door track

ABSTRACT

A tub has a tub wall that has an upper surface. An outer portion of the upper surface extends vertically upward of an inner portion. A door track is mounted on the inner portion to protect users from the door track.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tub having an upper wall with an outer flatsurface and lower inner surface mounting a door track.

Tub and shower enclosures generally include a wet wall, from which ashowerhead and faucet extend, a back wall, and a dry wall that opposesthe wet wall. The three walls form a u-shaped enclosure. The fourth sideis left open for entry and exit into the enclosure. Typically, a showerdoor or curtain is positioned along the fourth side.

Shower enclosures that have a shower door positioned along the fourthside must have a door track mounted to an upper wall of the tub to guidethe shower door. However, the door tracks provide an uneven surface whena user rests an arm on the tub when reaching in. For example, whencleaning the tub or bathing a child, a user often must lean on thetrack, which is uncomfortable.

A tub that provides a smooth upper wall surface for user support andprotects the user from the door track would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tub or shower enclosure has a back wall, a first side wall and asecond side wall. Together the three pieces form a U-shaped assembly.The open fourth side of the enclosure is used for entering and exitingthe tub and shower enclosure.

The fourth side has a tub upper wall that extends partially upward. Thetub upper wall has an outer side that spaced toward the bathroom and aninner side that is adjacent the tub. Extending between the outer sideand the inner side is an upper side that has an outer portion and aninner portion.

The outer portion extends vertically upwardly above the inner portion. Adoor track is mounted on the inner portion. The outer portion provides asurface upon which the user can rest an arm when reaching into the tub,without requiring one's arm to rest on the door track. A center portionconnects the outer portion to the inner portion. The center portion canhave a slope between the outer portion and the inner portion or noslope.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understoodfrom the following specification and drawings, the following of which isa brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tub enclosure of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a tub wall and door trackof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of a tub wall and doortrack of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a benefit of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure 10 for a tub or shower. Theenclosure 10 has a back wall 12, a first side wall 14 and a second sidewall 16. The first side wall 14 is a wet wall. That is, it receives theshower and tub faucet, showerhead, etc. The second side wall 16 is a drywall, the wall opposing the wet wall in the enclosure 10. Together thethree pieces form a U-shaped assembly. The open fourth side 18 of theenclosure 10 is used for entering and exiting the tub and showerenclosure 10.

The fourth side 18 has a tub wall 20 that extends partially upward. Anupper area 22 is left open for entering and exiting the tub and showerenclosure 10. The tub wall 20 has an outer side 24 that faces thebathroom and an inner side 26 (See FIGS. 2 and 3) that is the fourthside of a tub. Extending between the outer side 24 and the inner side 26is a top or upper side 28. The upper side 28 has an outer portion 30 andan inner portion 32. As shown, shower doors 100 slide on track 34.

FIG. 2 shows a section of a first embodiment of the upper side 28 of tubwall 20. The outer portion 30 extends vertically above the inner portion32. Door track 34 is mounted on the inner portion 32. A center incline36 connects the outer portion 30 to the inner portion 32. The outerportion 30 provides a surface upon which the user 110 (See FIG. 4) canrest an arm when reaching into the tub, while protecting the user fromresting on the door track 34. FIG. 2 shown the center portion 36 havinga slope between the outer portion 30 and the inner portion 32. The slopeprovides access between outer portion 30 and the door track 34 foreasier cleaning purposes.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment where the center portion 36 has noslope. The door track 34 can be positioned adjacent the center portion36 leaving no gap between the outer portion 30 and the door track 34, ora minimal gap is left which can be filled with caulk to prevent dirt anddebris from entering the space between the outer portion 30 and the doortrack 34.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, aworker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certainmodifications would come within the scope of this invention. For thatreason, the following claims should be studied to determine the truescope and content of this invention.

1. A tub comprising: a tub having an upper side with an outer portionand an inner portion, wherein said inner portion being vertically lowerthan said outer portion; and a door track mounted inwardly of said outerportion.
 2. The tub enclosure of claim 1, wherein said door track ismounted on said inner portion.
 3. The tub enclosure of claim 1, whereina center portion connects said outer portion and said inner portion. 4.The tub enclosure of claim 3, wherein said center portion has anincline.
 5. The tub enclosure of claim 3, wherein said center portionhas no incline.